Is there an attainable BRIGHT LED homebrew solution yet?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is there an attainable BRIGHT LED homebrew solution yet?
So my current setup uses two large reflector 12V 11W halogen bulbs with a 7AH lead acid battery.
I'd like to upgrade to a Li-Ion battery but I would realistically have to sacrifice some run time. However, if I had more efficient light sources, then I could keep or improve my runtime with a smaller capacity Li-Ion battery.
So are there any LED light solutions available that are nearly as bright as halogen with [b]large reflectors[b]?
I'd like to upgrade to a Li-Ion battery but I would realistically have to sacrifice some run time. However, if I had more efficient light sources, then I could keep or improve my runtime with a smaller capacity Li-Ion battery.
So are there any LED light solutions available that are nearly as bright as halogen with [b]large reflectors[b]?
#3
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Fuji Tahoe, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 722 Times
in
366 Posts
There are plenty, most of which are brighter than your current halogen, with 2-4 times the runtime.
See the total geekiness thread.
See the total geekiness thread.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you have a link for the reflector/housing you used?
#5
?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
19 Posts
Hope I'm not violating some sort of cross-forum reference convention but here is a very attractive DIY LED light. Basically a DIY Dinotte light.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 1,300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Has anyone messed around with mounting an LED emitter inside the gutted reflector housing of a halogen lamp? I like the large reflectors and am thinking about possibilities in that range. Going to order 3 Cree XR-Es from DealExtreme and a bFlex driver
#9
?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,775
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hope I'm not violating some sort of cross-forum reference convention but here is a very attractive DIY LED light. Basically a DIY Dinotte light.
I'm thinking 240 lumens, still crap.
Build two of these, then you're good.
You don't necessarily have to follow the exact instruction on that site, I built one of those with a different drivers and housing cutouts to cut back on the amount of work needed.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Minneapolis MN USA
Posts: 848
Bikes: Trek 4300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I purchased one of these:
https://www.besthomeledlighting.com/p...-GX5.3-S-3W-WD
and mounted it in a PVC housing. I don't think it is quite as bright as a 20-watt halogen MR16, but it is bright enough.
https://www.besthomeledlighting.com/p...-GX5.3-S-3W-WD
and mounted it in a PVC housing. I don't think it is quite as bright as a 20-watt halogen MR16, but it is bright enough.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 274
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I still think these are the hottest thing out there for DIY'ers right now...
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6090
It's got a Cree LED in it and it self regulates from 3-18V. Basically you find a way to mount it and put any battery source you have to it and enjoy the nice bright light. I put one in a headlight and I feel like a freight train when I'm out there riding. It has a nice bright hot spot and lots of usable spill too. Eventually I'll buy a few more and wire them up for a 3 light headlight and ditch the mr16 I'm using...
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6090
It's got a Cree LED in it and it self regulates from 3-18V. Basically you find a way to mount it and put any battery source you have to it and enjoy the nice bright light. I put one in a headlight and I feel like a freight train when I'm out there riding. It has a nice bright hot spot and lots of usable spill too. Eventually I'll buy a few more and wire them up for a 3 light headlight and ditch the mr16 I'm using...
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hope this isn't considered spam, but I'm in the process of putting together a DIY led light kit. Should help with all those annoying choices the beginner needs to make. What LED? What optics work with what LED? Batteries?
More details can be found at:
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=373277
I'm in the process of trying out a few different designs. I'll probably have a few kits available by mid feb.
Mark
More details can be found at:
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=373277
I'm in the process of trying out a few different designs. I'll probably have a few kits available by mid feb.
Mark
#13
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
Join Date: May 2005
Location: all the way down under
Posts: 4,276
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1589 Post(s)
Liked 687 Times
in
365 Posts
https://www.cutter.com.au
Have a look under the optoelectronics section and you'll find everything you need for a homebrew LED light.
#14
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
19 Posts
The other unofrtunate problem with a 200L Knockoff is you still have to use that lame rubber-band mounting system. Makes it annoying to install/take off the light and there is no swivel option.
#15
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Fuji Tahoe, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 722 Times
in
366 Posts
The MR11 kit from cutter puts out 750lm. Order the nightlightning head unit, no lame rubber band
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North of the 49th Parallel (GPS grid soon)
Posts: 1,766
Bikes: MTB Peugoet Canyon (forgot the model), Nikishi? roadbike, MTB custom build,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Word is SSC is coming out with a 370+lm LED sometime this year. I think that's based on 1A driving. Cree should have ~275lm in thier R2 or was it R4..I forgot.
Right now if you're doing DIY and want good bang for buck and still very respectible bright (some may say blinding) the SSC P4 U-bin LED's at DealExtreme are hard to beat at ~$5.50/ea where as the Cree Q5's are $9.00/ea.
The SSC P4's get 240lm @ 1A (if you win the lottery) but after the conversions of ~85% effecient optics plus 85% drivers it comes out to this :
240 x .85 x .85 = 173.4lm @ 1A after effeciencies.
That's if my math is correct. Still working with two LED's gives you 300+ lm.
Right now if you're doing DIY and want good bang for buck and still very respectible bright (some may say blinding) the SSC P4 U-bin LED's at DealExtreme are hard to beat at ~$5.50/ea where as the Cree Q5's are $9.00/ea.
The SSC P4's get 240lm @ 1A (if you win the lottery) but after the conversions of ~85% effecient optics plus 85% drivers it comes out to this :
240 x .85 x .85 = 173.4lm @ 1A after effeciencies.
That's if my math is correct. Still working with two LED's gives you 300+ lm.
#17
Mister Goody Two Shoes
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So assuming no trouble with the power supply end of things, .85 * 240 = 204 lumens output, slightly under 60 lumens per watt at full throttle.
#18
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
19 Posts
So in a nutshell, we'll be seeing 370lm+ out of a single LED. I'm a newb at this lighting stuff, what does the 1A have to do with brightness?
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Monument, Colorado
Posts: 379
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/
The transportation - bicycle lighting forum at this site has a lot of examples home made LED lights, and lots of discussion on the electronics used to drive them. Here's a link to a light I made with 3 CREE XR-E P4 LEDs driven at 800ma. Thats about 400 lumens, and it seems as bright as my halogen two bulb unit 10W +15W.
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=182208
The transportation - bicycle lighting forum at this site has a lot of examples home made LED lights, and lots of discussion on the electronics used to drive them. Here's a link to a light I made with 3 CREE XR-E P4 LEDs driven at 800ma. Thats about 400 lumens, and it seems as bright as my halogen two bulb unit 10W +15W.
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=182208
Last edited by bfromcolo; 01-27-08 at 05:12 PM.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Monument, Colorado
Posts: 379
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North of the 49th Parallel (GPS grid soon)
Posts: 1,766
Bikes: MTB Peugoet Canyon (forgot the model), Nikishi? roadbike, MTB custom build,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
EDIT: CPF is working now. 1837 ET
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North of the 49th Parallel (GPS grid soon)
Posts: 1,766
Bikes: MTB Peugoet Canyon (forgot the model), Nikishi? roadbike, MTB custom build,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#23
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Fuji Tahoe, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 722 Times
in
366 Posts
There are MUCH brighter LEDs . . . out there but the efficiency is the important point. Current crees are around 100lm/w
The LED output is a function of the current through it. They are most efficient at lower currents. You are much better off driving 4 LEDs at 350mA than 1 at 1.4A... maybe 50% more light for the same power input. Less heat issues too.